It's time to get real...or, you know, a heavily produced yet tremendously entertaining version of real.
We're wrapping up our 2012 Emmy predictions with the show's two biggest reality categories: Outstanding Reality Series and Outstanding Host.
CBS' The Amazing Race has basically been the Mad Men of this category and we're not so sure this year will be any different. However, the Outstanding Host race should prove to be a little more interesting since perennial winner Jeff Probst didn't land a nom this year.
OUTSTANDING REALITY SERIES
Should Win: So You Think You Can Dance. While eight-time victor Amazing Race seems to be a lock, Fox's cult-fave dance competition deserves to waltz away with it, given its particularly on-pointe season, which combined breathtaking moves with a genuinely heated competition. Cat Deeley's showing in the host category proves there's strong support for the show, and the fact that the series just recently completed its most recent summer season means it may be fresh in voters' minds.
Will Win: The Amazing Race. CBS's critically adored adventure-competition series has indeed had an amazing run in this category, losing only once (to Bravo's Top Chef) in nine years. We don't see any reason why the streak won't continue, considering the series had another pulse-pounding season chock-full of exotic, far-flung locales and a cast of unforgettable characters. Especially when those casting the votes—other peeps who work in reality TV—know all too well what an ambitious undertaking a show of Race's scale and scope really is. If any show has a shot at an upset, it may be NBC's button-pushing breakthrough The Voice, which not only stole rival American Idol's thunder last year but its slot in this category.
OUTSTANDING HOST FOR A REALITY OR REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
Should Win: Surprisingly, this category was one of the toughest for us to make a decision on as some of our favorites, including So You Think You Can Dance's Deeley and Dancing With the Stars' Tom Bergeron, are in the running. Oh, and Betty White, aka everyone's favorite human on the planet. Still, we're going with Ryan Seacrest, who has been rock-solid through 12(!) seasons and various judging panels of American Idol. In simpler terms: Seacrest…in!
Will Win: With Survivor's Probst out of the running, this year's race is a bit of a toss-up. However, given The Amazing Race's absolute dominance of the Outstanding Reality Series category, we think the show's host Phil Keoghan will take this one. Still, Seacrest, this category's dark horse, could pull off the upset.